When I was at UCLA, I had this disgusting roommate. He was putrid. Don’t even get me started with his personal hygiene. I didn’t care so much as long as he didn’t cross onto my side of the room.

One day, he not only crossed the line, he touched it. Like he literally wiped a booger on my towel because he ran out of tissue, touched it. Needless to say, I was furious. As much as I wanted to punch his lights out, I offered him my towel as a personal tissue and went to Target to purchase a new one.

Hatred is a very negative emotion. It is venomous for the person issuing caustic words and for the recipient of said animosity.

On February 7, 2012, Ellen Degeneres posted a video in response to some critics about her sponsorship by JC Penney. I found Ellen DeGeneres to have handled the criticism with grace, humility and, most importantly, humor.

Here are the values that I stand for:

honesty

equality

kindness

compassion

treating people the way you want to be treated

and helping those in need

To me, those are traditional values; that’s what I stand for.
– Ellen DeGeneres

So, in the face of haters, just smile. They’re not worth your time.

Celebrating the month of love,

Lawrence Chan

P.S. Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? And it’s okay to send a gift to yourself. I approve of it.